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"He Texted Me": Ben Stokes Reveals Jofra Archer Is 'Desperate' To Play India Series

Soumyajit Dutta

Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes [Source: @CrickitbyHT/X.com]Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes [Source: @CrickitbyHT/X.com]

England skipper Ben Stokes recently revealed that the star pace bowler of the Three Lions, Jofra Archer, is desperate to resume his Test career after years sidelined by serious injuries. Archer, who hasn't played first-class cricket since 2021, has been subtly texting Stokes about his availability. 

Stokes Reveals Jofra Archer's Eagerness To Play

Stokes shared that Jofra Archer's eagerness was clear through cryptic messages, including one simply asking "Zim?" before the Zimbabwe series. The captain, however, emphasised the need for caution given Archer's lengthy injury struggles.

“He’s been absolutely desperate to put the white shirt back on. Randomly, a couple of times, he would just send me a text saying, ‘Zim?’," Stokes said in the pre-first-Test press conference on Thursday.

“I was like, ‘Let’s just hold it right there, all right. I know you’re in a good spot right now, but let’s not just rush into it’," Stokes added.

Notably, although recovering well, a recent thumb injury sustained in the IPL has ruled him out of the first Test against India, starting Friday. England selector Luke Wright indicated Archer could be considered for the second Test at Edgbaston.

Ben Stokes acknowledged Archer's positive progress through white-ball cricket but stressed the importance of a careful plan for his Test return.

“He’s obviously had a horrific time with injuries, but he’s had some good amount of cricket, albeit in the white-ball formats. It’s really exciting for England, but also more exciting for Jof that he’s in a position now where we’re able to have a plan in place and hopefully him get through something to actually be considered for selection for Test cricket," he added.

Archer's Test Record Against India

Notably, Jofra Archer has featured in three innings against India in Test cricket, all during the 2021 series. In those outings, the England pacer bowled a total of 35.1 overs, conceding 122 runs while claiming 4 wickets at an economy rate of 3.47. His bowling average stood at 30.5, with a strike rate of 52.8. 

Archer conceded 19 fours and a solitary six, maintaining a dot-ball percentage of 75.4%, indicating the consistent pressure he created despite not picking up a large number of wickets. Hence, expecting his return for the Test side, a spicy contest will be up for the audience.